"e-Europe is a roadmap to modernise our economy. At the same time, through its E-Learning component, it offers everyone, but particularly young people, the skills and tools they need to succeed in the new knowledge based economy."
(Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission)
"If Europe is to be a dominant economic and social force on global stage it must act as cohesive unit when possible. E-Learning is an opportunity for Europe to utilize the power of technological, social and educational change, bringing benefits to academia and to business"
(Viviane Reading, Commissioner for Education and Culture)
The presented Project is the academic, scientific and vocational community answer on Joint Declaration on delivering the European e-Learning Agenda ("five themes"). The promotion of E-Learning education by European Commission and national governments at May 2001 e-Learning Summit allows creating a climate of awareness of potential of e-Learning across public and private sectors and the education community.
The Pilot Project will enhance and build new generation vocational education model into European dimension. This innovative proposal formulates tasks in seven important topics related to main Gas Engineering vocational problems. MAIN ACTIVITIES has been divided into following work packages (WP):
WP2: Confirmation of needs - survey,
WP3: Preparation of mixed-e-Learning system,
WP3.2: Underground Gas Storage and CO2-Sequestration problems,
WP3.4: Gas Usage, End User Safety and Environmental Protection,
WP3.5: Quality Management and Human Resources Management,
WP5: Evaluation, Corrections and Project Quality Management
WP6: Diffusion and Dissemination Process
An additional survey for confirmation of needs (WP2) is planed after start of project to verify needs of continued education in the gas industry sector. The sub-packages in the WP3 contains vocational educational methodology needs to publish to regional and local gas companies. In WP3 will allow to construct Web server and multimedia interactive e-training software . The first two of work sub-packages (WP3.1, WP3.2) are connected to the production and storage of natural gas, as well to the sequestration of CO2. The next two sub-packages (WP3.3, WP3.4) concern to surface problems in the gas engineering. The WP3.5 will concern safety, environmental impact and personal management in gas industry. The WP4 allow to check educational system in real situation.
After starting the experiment the process of quality management - WP5 - will begin by evaluation and correction of pilot system. Detailed dissemination and diffusion program to promote results of the Project will be done in the WP6. The main ideas of the pilot Project are presented below using the simplified mind-map (fig. E.1.1).
The whole timetable of Project is divided into three parts: first part is related to start of Project. The realization of this Project's parts is connected with the work package WP1, WP2 and WP6The initial part of Project (first two months) is designated to meet of partners, correct of work plan and formulated detailed requirements of work quality (WP2). The correction of program will be necessary after finishing the detailed analyze of need in the vocational community in each of Partner country. Below in fig. E.1.2 one may find mind-map of the first stage of Project. The second part of Project is related to two main aspects of Project: first -preparing input and iteration of quality e-Learning courses (WP3) and later - starting teaching experiment (WP4) with continuously quality checking of project (WP5) dissemination (WP6). The last stage of Pilot Project concentrates attention on enhanced dissemination (however dissemination process will be done from start of Project ) and preparing of final reporting.
The internal experts (DWGV, SITPNIG) and internal experts from EFCA (European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Association) and Gas Commerce Chambers (see recommendation letter of Polish IGG) will give the opinion on quality of work of project.
In the preparation of learning material in the ICT format all Partners will assume help of subcontractors - quality e-learning companies, which will produce high quality multimedia sources (slides, graphics, presentations, films, virtual labs etc). The primary role of subcontractors is add quality support to the content of e-learning experimental courses (WP3). This allow to concentrate main partners on the engineering and educational input of course instead of realizing total courses production.